She still clings
to the Government as our fathers formed it. She is ready to-day
and to-morrow, as in her past and though brief yet brilliant
history, to maintain that Government in all its power, and to
vindicate its honor with all the means she possesses. I say
brilliant history; for it was in the very morning of her
existence that her sons, on the plains of New Orleans, were
announced, in general orders, to have been the admiration of one
army and the wonder of the other. That we had a division in
relation to the measures enacted in 1850, is true; that the
Southern rights men became the minority in the election which
resulted, is true; but no figure of speech could warrant the
Senator in speaking of them as subdued--as coming to him or
anybody else for quarter. I deemed it offensive when it was
uttered, and the scorn with which I repelled it at the instant,
time has only softened to contempt. Our flag was never borne
from the field. We had carried it in the face of defeat, with a
knowledge that defeat awaited it; but scarcely had the smoke of
the battle passed away which proclaimed another victor, before
the general voice admitted that the field again was ours. I have
not seen a sagacious, reflecting man, who was cognizant of the
events as they transpired at the time, who does not say that,
within two weeks after the election, our party was in a
majority; and the next election which occurred showed that we
possessed the State beyond controversy.
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